2nd District hopefuls battle over who’ll carry GOP torch

TOPEKA — Two GOP rivals clashed Tuesday night over who’s best able to return the 2nd District congressional seat to Republican hands in November’s general election.

State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins and former U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun struck similar tones on many issues, including the need to reduce federal spending, in a live debate broadcast on a Topeka-based television station.

The pair, who will square off in the Aug. 5 GOP primary for the right to face freshman Democrat Nancy Boyda, differed significantly though on who’s in the best position to deliver for voters.

Ryun was unseated two years ago by Boyda after representing the 2nd District for five terms. He touted his congressional record on such issues as tax relief and promises to work for fiscal restraint and oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants.

“We don’t need to send more money back to Washington,” Ryun said during the debate broadcast on KSNT Channel 27.

But while Jenkins took similar positions on those issues, she argues that Ryun is the wrong man for the job because Republicans need new leadership in Washington, D.C.

“God love you, Jim, you’ve had your chance,” Jenkins said.

Ryun countered that Jenkins voted to increase taxes at least 12 times while serving in the state Legislature, including hikes to the state’s gasoline tax.

“While she was a state legislator there was no leadership,” Ryun said.

Jenkins defended her votes, saying she supported using new gas taxes to fund road and bridge improvements in Kansas. She also said expensive federal mandates from Congress left state lawmakers with no choice but to boost taxes.

Ryun also talked about how he voted the wishes of his district over the preference of the Bush Administration and his party in opposing the No Child Left Behind education law and the Medicare Part D program.

But Jenkins said Ryun didn’t do enough to bring results on issues ranging from stopping wasteful spending projects to clearing the way for oil drilling in areas where exploration is presently barred by law.

“Leadership is taking people where they don’t want to go,” Jenkins said.

She said 2nd District voters selected Boyda two years ago because they were fed up with Ryun’s performance, not because they wanted the Democrat to represent them.

Both Ryun and Jenkins argued in favor of bolstering border security to reduce illegal immigration and oppose laws providing a path to legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants living or working in the country.

Each said they’d oppose allowing families without proper legal status to stay in the country, even if they were parents of a child born a U.S. citizen.

On another hot-button issue, Ryun said he opposes abortion while Jenkins said she has supported restricting abortion but favors exceptions for rape, incest and protecting the life of the mother.

Jenkins and Ryun also criticized Boyda and said the Democrat doesn’t truly represent the wishes of the predominantly Republican 2nd District.

“I don’t think it’s statistically possible to have a Democrat represent this district,” Jenkins said.